Fingringhoe Wick on an Incoming Tide

5th October 2023

After a most rewarding visit to Abberton Reservoir with the Great White Egrets time to move on to Fingringhoe in the hope of getting some waders in the intertidal area on the incoming tide. We hadn't even got to the hide when we were sidetracked by this beautiful Comma sunning itself on the brambles.

When we arrived at Margaret's Hide the water from the River Colne was just starting to flow into the intertidal area. No waders yet, apart from a few Curlews which are usually present irrespective of the tide.

Then as the water rose waders started to fly in like these Ringed Plovers......................

...............and then some Dunlin. Unfortunately by now there should have been large flocks of birds flying up and down the river getting disturbed by the rising tide, but today hardly any at all which didn't bode well.

Normally there would be 100+ Golden Plover but today just a couple of individual birds looking a bit lost.

Also nowhere as many Grey Plovers as normal but a few did fly in showing off their black armpits.

Back at Robbie's Hide a few Turnstones were exploring the seaweed on the wreck just outside the hide................

....................and then the stones in amongst the Glasswort.

There were also a couple of Redshank making the most of the exposed mud before it got covered up..........................

........................and a couple of fly-by Grey Plovers.

Our final stop was overlooking Geedon's Marsh where a flock of Black-tailed Godwits had been disturbed and were circling round before finding a landing place.

On the pool behind the sea wall a lone Greenshank had found a roosting spot, although normally there are 30+ here at high tide, so I don't know where they have all gone.

But the best surprise of all is when this female Kingfisher landed on a post just 15 yards outside the window, and what a wonderful way to end the day!!!!!